Mapping out England's possible journey to the 2022 World Cup final on December 18 in Qatar
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Published 01/04/2022 at 20:22 GMT
The draw has been made, England now know who their opponents in Group B will be (well, the majority of them!) and optimistic fans of the Three Lions can now start mapping out who they might meet in the knockout stages should Gareth Southgate's men get that far. A potential round-of-16 clash with the Netherlands is quite possible, but who after that?
Harry Kane with England
Image credit: Getty Images
Having captured the imagination of the country in both the World Cup of 2018 when they were semi-finalists and having gone one better in Euro 2020 but ultimately losing to Italy, England now have the experience required to go all the way in Qatar.
Handed a relatively kind draw in Group B where Gareth Southgate's side will meet their friends across the pond in the USA, play a first-ever match with Iran and meet a potential British rival in either Wales or Scotland (should they get past Ukraine in the play-offs), England have every right to be confident of progressing to the knockout stages.
After all, the Three Lions have failed to advance from the initial group stage only three times - and only once in the last six decades.
For those England supporters who may well be sketching out their country's route to the final on December 18 - fear not, we've got you covered.
Last 16
Should England top the group, as expected, they would meet the runners-up of Group A on Sunday, December 4 at the Al Bayt Stadium at 7pm (BST). One of either Qatar, Ecuador, Senegal and Netherlands. Let's say Louis van Gaal's side finish top and Qatar are bottom (sorry, hosts!), then it would be a toss-up between Africa Cup of Nations champions Senegal and free-scoring South Americans Ecuador.
However, should Southgate's side only finish second in Group B, then it could well be the Oranje in the round of 16 or whoever tops Group A - a match that would take place at Khalifa International Stadium, Al Rayyan on Saturday, December 3 at 3pm.
Quarter-final
And if England emerge victorious in the last-16, the winners of Group D, potentially France or even Denmark (could be Australia/UAE/Peru or Tunisia), could lie in wait. Or, the runner-up of Group C. That could be a rematch of the 1986 quarter-final with old rivals Argentina, possibly Mexico or Poland or most unlikely, Saudi Arabia.
If England were group winners, this match would happen on Saturday, December 10, at Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor (7pm).
And if England were runners-up, it would happen on Friday, December 9 at Lusail Iconic Stadium (again at 7pm).
Semi-final
This is where it gets complicated. If England repeat their heroics of 2018 and make it to the last-four, they would meet a team from Group E, F, G or H, so Spain, Costa Rica/New Zealand, Germany, Japan, Belgium, Canada, Morocco, Croatia, Brazil, Serbia, Switzerland, Cameroon, Portugal, Ghana, Uruguay or *deep breath* South Korea.
Semi-final contests are to take place on Tuesday, December 13 at Lusail Iconic Stadium and Wednesday, December 14 - both at 7pm.
Final
The opponents in the final - taking place at Lusail at 7pm on Sunday December 18 - is anyone's guess really. So, who do you fancy?
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